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I ’m barely out of the sports complex before my phone starts ringing in my pocket. I reach in and hit accept without even thinking to look at who it is. However, it doesn’t take me long to figure it out because not more than half a second later Emerson’s voice is yelling through my headphones, “YOU GOT FUCKING MARRIED?”

Well that solves the problem of me having to tell him.

“Wait, that’s why we’re calling him?” Clay? “Actually, double wait, YOU GOT MARRIED AND I WASN’T THERE TO BE YOUR BEST MAN?”

? * “Who the hell says you’d be the best man?” Emerson asks.

Clay barks back, “Oh shove it, Emmy. We all know I’d be Jackson’s best man. You’re just jealous he loves me the most.”

“Who got married?” Rocky’s voice echoes in the background.

“Oh hold on, the twins are calling,” Emerson says. “Let me patch them in.”

“Oh my god, please don’t?—”

“Hey, what’s going on?” Emerson asks. “Oh, hey, Clay!”

“Hey, bud,” Clay answers. “Hey, Bry.”

“Sup, Clay. What’s happening? Why are we?—”

“WAIT! ” Clay shouts. “Who in the flying fuck did you get married to?”

“The athletic trainer,” Emerson says. “The one with the blond hair and?—”

“Young?” Clay instantly sounds perturbed. “You got married to Theodore Young?”

“You married a guy?!” Bryson asks. “Ouch! What the hell was that for?”

“You can’t ask it like that,” Grayson scolds. “But also, like… you married a guy?”

“Who cares if he married a guy, HE DIDN’T TELL ANY OF US.” I genuinely think Emerson might pop one of my ear drums.

“AND DIDN’T HAVE ME THERE AS HIS BEST MAN!” Or maybe it’ll be Clay.

“GOD DAMN IT, CLAY. YOU WOULD NOT BE HIS BEST MAN!” Nope. It’ll be Emerson.

“Is anyone going to let me speak?” I ask, but the four of them continue to bicker back and forth, as if I’m not the whole reason they’re calling me in the first place. I realize I’m rounding the corner to our block. But just as I’m about to cross the intersection to my side of the street, I realize that, for once, the little yellow house is where I’m supposed to go. So, I continue to walk down the block on the side of the street I’ve stopped myself from crossing for much longer than I’d care to admit. Because, that little yellow house… it’s now home to a person that loves me.

Theodore Young said he loves me.

Am I ready to say it back ?

As hard as I’ve worked to put everything that’s happened behind me, I just… I don’t know if I’m there yet. I don’t know if I’m ready to fully trust that he’s willing to give up the life he thought he was supposed to have… for me.

So, I can’t say it. Not yet. Not until I know for sure.

“Jackson, are you even listening?” Clay asks.

“No I’m not listening because I quite literally have not said more than ten words since this phone call started.” Theo’s house is only a few yards away, and I suddenly am no longer in the mood to entertain this band of hooligans. “Guys, I have to go. Emerson, I will come over tomorrow and talk to you, I swear. Goodbye everyone. Love you,” I sing-song as they continue to shout at me, but I reach back in my pocket and hang up anyway. I’m about to open the front door when I realize I don’t have a key. But just as I’m reaching out to knock it swings wide open. Theo is standing on the other side of it, dangling a gold key between his fingers. “Need one of these?”

I beam from ear to ear and snatch it from his fingers. “I sure did. Would hate to be locked out of my new house. But—” I move toward him, pushing him backward into the house. And once I’m fully inside I kick the door closed behind me. “Right now all I want to do is lock myself in.”

Without a word, Theo reaches behind me and turns the lock.

* ? Who are you? - Bad Omens